Kings County
Biographies
THOMAS JENKINSON
a rancher east of Armona, and a pioneer farmer of the Mussel Slough district, was born in New York State, April 20, 1835. His father, William Jenkinson, a native of Ireland, emigrated to the United States at an early day. In the infancy of Thomas his parents moved to Canada, and subsequently to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where they both died about the year 1845. Our subject then lived with his brothers and sisters, he being the youngest of six children, until 1852, when he crossed the plains for California, via Fort Laramie, Fort Hall, the Snake river and the Columbus river to Portland. There they stopped on Rogue river, and passed the winter in mining. The snow being deep and supplies giving out they were obliged to live for six weeks on deer meat, without a particle of salt or seasoning. In the spring of 1853 they went to Humboldt bay and engaged in lumbering, cutting logs and hauling to the saw-mills. In 1855 our subject left his oxen, valued at $400 per yoke, with a partner and went to the mines. During his absence his partner sold the oxen and “skipped” without reporting to Mr. Jenkinson. The latter continued mining in Placer County until 1856, and then engaged in wheat farming, which he continued until 1868, when he came to Hill’s Ferry, Merced County, and farmed two seasons. He again pushed South and landed in Tulare County, on the banks of the historic Mussel Slough, August 18, 1870, settling upon 160 acres of government land. The slough was dry, the plains an arid waste, covered with wild horses and cattle, and their only canopy from the sun’s rays was the spreading branches of a massive oak. Here they rested for two months, and during the time Mr. Jenkinson cut and hauled hay from Tule lake to feed their jaded horses. He then hauled lumber from the mountain saw-mill, seventy-five miles distant, and built his house, 12 x 12 feet, yet they were glad enough for even this protection form the wild cattle of the plains.
In the spring of 1871 Mr. Jenkinson went to Tule lake, and upon its moist border put in a summer crop. At that time groceries were all hauled from Stockton, a distance of 160 miles, to Kingston, the nearest trading post. In the spring of 1873 our subject was one of five men to organize and commence digging the People’s Ditch, the number being increased as later settlers came in. While Mr. Jenkinson worked on the ditch his wife supported the family by raising turkeys, having at one time 2,300, which she carefully herded as one would herd sheep. One season she netted $1,500 from her turkeys, besides guarding the crops from the wild animals. After securing water Mr. Jenkinson began farming more extensively, also sowed alfalfa and started the stock business in a small way. He was among the earliest in planting fruit experimentally, to which he has since added to the amount of twenty-six acres, and will soon plant a large part of his ranch of 100 acres.
He was married in Placer County, in October, 1862, to Miss Abby A. Jewett, a native of Massachusetts. They have three children: Henry R., Thomas A. and Lucy M., all living at home. Mr. Jenkinson is a member of Hanford Lodge, A.O.U.W., and a stanch supporter of the Farmers’ Alliance.
Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, California
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892 p. 771-772
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
D. BROWNSTONE
A leading merchant of the town of Lemoore, was born in the Province of Posen, Prussia, in 1839. In boyhood he entered the store of his father, and when but sixteen years of age he came to the United States and began peddling through the eastern part of the State of Massachusetts. In 1859 he came to California by steamer and the Isthmus of Panama, to join his brothers already in this State. After a short term of clerkship he entered into partnership with his brothers, I. & J. Brownstone, of Santa Cruz, with a branch store at Soquel, same county, where subject passed his time. After the flood of 1862, the town was so badly damaged, that they moved the stock to Watsonville, same County, and there remained until 1873, when the firm dissolved and subject retained the Watsonville interest. He then opened a store at Grangeville, and after a few months he closed out the store at Watsonville and took in Mr. B. Schwartz as partner at Grangeville, and in 1878 the firm opened a store at Lemoore, with Mr. Brownstone as manager. In 1880 the firm built the present fine structure 32 x 150 feet of brick, for store purposes, and the firm continued until 1886, when they dissolved and Mr. Brownstone retained the Lemoore interest. He then entered into partnership with his brother, H. Brownstone, and they started branch stores at Traver, Hanford and Grangeville, and conducted a very large business, until the fire of Traver in 1888. This, in addition to heavy losses in wheat speculations, so crippled the firm, that they dissolved, but subject has now overcome his reverses, and he is again doing a prosperous business, carrying a general stock of merchandise, agricultural implements and farm machinery. He also deals extensively in grain, and has two warehouses 50 x 75 and 60 x 100, for the proper storage. He is still interested with Mr. Schwartz in ranch property, and individually owns town property improved and unimproved. Mr. Brownstone was married at San Jose, in 1864, to Miss Adeline Cohn, a native of Prussia, and to this union have been added seven children, Alfred, Caria, now Mrs. M. I. Haber, of San Francisco, Lily, Mabel, Louis, Minnie and Samuel.
Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, California
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892 p. 774
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler